Street food in China: how to judge a stall in ten seconds

The ten-second judgement

1. 1
   Is something cooking in front of you?

   Wok, griddle, steamer, fryer. If yes, move on to the next question. If the food is pre-cooked and sitting out, walk.

2. 2
   Is there a queue?

   A queue at 12:00 or 18:00 means turnover, which means fresh. A stall with no customers at mealtime is empty for a reason.

3. 3
   Is the operator wearing gloves or handling food with tongs?

   Common but not universal. Not disqualifying on its own.

4. 4
   Is the price displayed?

   Yes means it is a normal stall. No means ask before ordering, always.

5. 5
   Is the oil dark and smoking?

   Dark oil has been reused all day. Skip the fried items.

Ten things worth eating

• Jianbing (煎饼) — Beijing breakfast crêpe with egg, crispy sheet and sauce. ¥8.
• Roujiamo (肉夹馍) — Xi’an braised pork in a flatbread. The original sandwich. ¥12.
• Biangbiang noodles (biangbiang面) — Xi’an, hand-pulled wide noodles with chilli oil. ¥25.
• Chuan chuan (串串) — Chengdu skewers, priced per stick. ¥1–3 each.
• Xiaolongbao (小笼包) — Shanghai soup dumplings, ¥20–40 a basket.
• Sheng jian bao (生煎包) — Shanghai pan-fried pork buns. Bursting with hot soup; bite carefully.
• Chang fen (肠粉) — Guangzhou rice-noodle rolls with egg and shrimp. ¥10.
• Guilin rice noodles (桂林米粉) — eaten at 07:00 with pickles and peanuts. ¥12.
• Tanghulu (糖葫芦) — candied hawthorn on a stick. Winter only, ¥10.
• Chou doufu (臭豆腐) — fermented tofu. Smells like a drains problem, tastes excellent.

What to avoid

• Cut fruit from unrefrigerated carts — the knife and the water are the risk, not the fruit.
• Raw vegetables and salads outside hotels.
• Ice in drinks from street stalls (safe in chain cafés and restaurants).
• Anything the vendor cannot sell you because “it needs another ten minutes” and then hands you one anyway.

If something disagrees with you

It happens to almost everyone at least once, usually in the first three days as your gut adjusts. Rehydration sachets, rest, and plain rice or noodles for a day. Seek medical care if there is blood, a fever over 38.5°C, or it lasts beyond three days. Chinese pharmacies sell oral rehydration salts cheaply and hospitals have international clinics in major cities.

Frequently asked